The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) decision to extend support to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) following the civic election results appears to have strained its relationship with the Shiv Sena (UBT).
The two parties had contested the KDMC elections together. However, the MNS’s post-poll support to the Shinde Sena triggered strong reactions from Sena (UBT) leaders.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is learnt to have expressed disappointment over the MNS’s decision. According to party sources, Thackeray told Sena (UBT) corporators from KDMC that the party would sit in the opposition, while assuring them of full support.
He also conveyed that had Sena (UBT) and the MNS remained together, KDMC could have seen a strong opposition. Thackeray reportedly said the MNS move was unnecessary and could have been avoided.
Reacting sharply, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said developments in Kalyan were unacceptable and had damaged trust between the two parties. “What happened in Kalyan was not acceptable even to Raj Thackeray. The MNS has said the decision was taken at the local level and that the party leadership was not aware of it. But even if it was a local decision, if the party wanted to forge alliances with people like Eknath Shinde, whom we consider traitors, then they should not have contested the elections with us. We will now discuss this internally with Raj Thackeray,” Raut said.
Raut also said alliances forged before elections should not be broken after the results, adding that local leaders responsible for such decisions should face action from the MNS leadership.
Within the MNS, the decision has elicited mixed reactions. Senior leader Bala Nandgaonkar said he was unhappy with the move and confirmed that a meeting between Sanjay Raut and Raj Thackeray had taken place. He also said that personally he did not approve of what happened in KDMC, but noted that parties sometimes take decisions based on local equations and circumstances.
“In politics there are no permanent enemies or friends. Anything can happen in politics. But unethical practices should not be tolerated. Personally, this decision does not appeal to me but sometimes parties takes decisions depending upon the local equations. I think Raju Patil who oversaw all of it must have discussed with Raj Thackeray about it,” Nandgaonkar said.
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Former MNS MLA Raju Patil, however, defended the decision, saying the support was extended to ensure stability in the civic body. “Staying in power helps complete work faster. After the results, some corporators were not reachable. A decision had to be taken,” Patil said.
MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said Raj Thackeray had given Patil full freedom to take a local decision, keeping party interests and the ground situation in mind.
